The Penalty »

Mal Peet is the author of the Carnegie Medal-winning novel TAMAR, as well two previous Paul Faustino novels, KEEPER and THE PENALTY. He lives in Devon, England.

As the city of San Juan pulses to summer's sluggish beat, its teenage soccer prodigy, El Brujito, the Little Magician, vanishes without a trace - right after he misses a penalty kick and loses a big game for his team. Paul Faustino, South America's top sports reporter, is reluctantly drawn into the mystery of the athlete's disappearance. As a story of corruption and murder unfolds, Faustino is forced to confront the bitter history of slavery and the power of the occult. A deftly woven mystery flush with soccer and suspense, this gripping novel is one that shouldn't be missed.

From the award-winning author of TAMAR, a time-shifting thriller about a vanishing soccer star, occult secrets, and the dark history of slavery.

Children's Literature

A soccer sensation, known as El Brujito, vanishes one day after an upsetting loss in San Juan. No one seems to know where he could have gone or what happened to him, and even more mysteriously, the police do not seem to be looking. Enter Paul Faustino, an accredited sports writer who happens to be in San Juan researching his new book. Without any intention of getting involved in the story, Faustino finds himself literally drugged into the past as he discovers that El Brujito's disappearance is tied to centuries of bitter history, slavery, and corruption. The story is told through both past and present lenses as it gives the reader small glimpses into the past and the story of a young slave who transformed into the Pai, a religious leader and protector of his people. The story, however, does not alternate frequently enough, which adds certain confusion to the plot. There are many elements of The Penalty that readers will enjoy, including the ending where it all somewhat comes together, but it lacks an overall cohesiveness between the two plotlines. Reviewer: Jeanna Sciarrotta